Mariko-san

Silvio Rodriguez's song 'Mariko-San' is a poetic exploration of memory, longing, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the omnipresence of Mariko-San, a figure who seems to leave traces everywhere the narrator goes. This constant discovery of notes and signs from Mariko-San suggests a deep connection and a sense of nostalgia. The act of finding these papers in various places—drawers, books, pockets, and under tablecloths—symbolizes the inescapable nature of certain memories and emotions that linger in our lives, no matter how much time passes or how far we go.

The second verse introduces the arrival of summer, described as an impatient force that 'did not want to wait.' This season, often associated with warmth and vitality, is depicted here as overwhelming and suffocating, with its 'seven-month-old oven' metaphorically choking the narrator. This could represent the intensity of emotions or memories that resurface with the changing seasons, particularly those that are difficult to confront or that disrupt the narrator's sense of peace. The summer's arrival 'since yesterday' emphasizes the suddenness and inevitability of these feelings.

In the final verse, the narrator reflects on what they 'should' do today—count to a hundred, dream, return from the ocean, walk barefoot, and marry someone without knowing who. These actions suggest a desire for simplicity, spontaneity, and a return to innocence or a state of unburdened existence. The repetition of 'Hoy debiera contar hasta cien' (Today I should count to a hundred) underscores a longing for a moment of pause and reflection, a break from the overwhelming presence of memories and the passage of time. The song, with its rich imagery and emotional depth, captures the universal human experience of grappling with the past while yearning for a sense of peace and clarity in the present.